I think one word is missing from the discussion and there's been no distinction between it and another word.

The two words are earning and exploitation.

Earning are what you get from working, exploitation is what you get by being "crafty".

It's quite possible for "an ordinary working man" to use his noddle and make quite substantial means from working and making good decisions to boost his earnings. He'll never be part of "The Elite" but he will have more means than other working blokes who haven't managed their affairs so well.

On the other hand, there's those who use their noddle to exploit others. By that I mean that they've had an idea which is desirable to many and exploit them by overcharging for their idea.

You can't go from starting with next to nothing up to becoming a billionaire (many times over?) without exploiting people. By that I mean something which, after you've thought it out can be produced for a miniscule amount and then sold on for an enormous percentage increase.

I think many readers here are using one such product?

There's nothing elitist about it. However, once you've "done it", you might then consider yourself part of "The Elite"?